MOYO members and friends at Lake Piburg
On the afternoon of 14 June, the MOYO Board invited members and friends of the association to an excursion, including a guided tour, to Lake Piburger See in the Ötztal valley in midsummer temperatures. The group was accompanied by Dr Klaus Schallhart, biologist and scientific coordinator of the Alpine research centres at the University of Innsbruck.
During a hike around the lake, the participants learnt about the formation of the lake and that limnochemical data has been collected since the 1960s. This means that Lake Piburger See is probably the best-studied lake in Tyrol. Due to the intensive use of the pastureland and the neighbouring bathing area, the lake reached a critical state of eutrophication. By installing an Olszewski pipe in 1970, it was rehabilitated and is now in an oligo-mesotrophic state.
The centrepiece of this research site is a measuring platform in the lake with a weather station and probes for measuring the temperature, conductivity, pH value and oxygen saturation of the water. The sensors are in operation all year round and data is transmitted online.
Of course, fun and socialising were not to be neglected on the excursion. They had a cosy lunch at the inn by the lake. And on the way back to Innsbruck on this hot day, we couldn’t miss out on an ice cream to cool off.
Many thanks to everyone who took part and to Dr Klaus Schallhart for the great tour!